Retaining structure for window sash and counterweights



March s, 1965 R. N. ANDERSQN 3,172,169

RETINING STRUCTURE FOR WINDOW SASH AND COUNTERWEIGHTS Filed July l5. 1963 Sheets-Sheet Il.l

IN VEN TOR.

RIGHAR N.A DERsoN ATTORNEY March 9 1965 R. N. ANDERSON 3,172,169

RETAINING STRUCTURE FOR WINDOW SASH AND COUNTERWEIGHTS Filed July 15, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

RICHARD N. ANDERSON ATTORNEYS United States Patent O 3,172,169 RETAINING STRUCTURE EUR WINDOW SASH AND CUNTERWEIGHTS Richard N. Anderson, Rome, Ga., assignor to V. E.

Anderson Mfg. Co., wensboro, Ky., a corporation of Kentucky v Filed July 15,1963, Ser..No. 294,903

Claims. (Cl. 20-52) The invention relates to window construction and refers more specifically to improved structure for retaining a window sash and counterweight assemblies therefor in assembly.

In past window construction the sash and counterweight assemblies therefor have been held in assembly by a plurality of different structures, such, for example, a metal member secured by means of removable screws or the like Vto both the sash and counterweight assemblies. Also, sliding Vmembers reciprocal in tracks and cooperating brackets for receiving the sliding members in one position thereof have been provided operable between counterweight assemblies and sash for releasably securing them together.

The prior known structures for maintaining a sash and counterweight assemblies of window constructions in assembly have the disadvantage of requiring a plurality of separate elements which are expensive to produce and assemble. A Further, with the prior structures the separation of the counterweight assemblies from the sash has usually required the use of tools and has taken considerable time to effect.

It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide improved structure for securing a window sash and counterweight assemblies therefor in assembly.

Another object is to provide window construction including a sash and counterweight assemblies therefor and snap acting structure for releasably assembling the counterweight assemblies and sash which is automatically operable to engage the assemblies and sash on fully lowering the sash and to disengage the assemblies and sash on fully raising the sash.

Another object is to provide a window structure comprising a sash including a bottom rail having an open lower side with longitudinally extending ribs projecting toward each other adjacent the open lower side thereof, a counterweight assembly and a shoe member secured to the counterweight assembly having a head portion extending into the lower rail of the sash through the lower side thereof and cammed over the ribs in the lower rail of said sash providing abutments for releasably maintaining the counterweight assembly and sash in assembly.

Another object is to provide structure as set forth above wherein the lower rail of the sash is resilient and provides spring action to facilitate the camming of the head portion of the shoe past the ribs in the rail.

Another object is to provide window construction which is simple in structure, economical to manufacture and efficient in use.

Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent as the description proceeds, especially when taken in' conjunction with the accompanying drawings, illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein:

FIGURE l is an elevation view of a window construction including structure for holding counterweights and sash in assembly in accordance with the invention.

FIGURE 2 is an enlarged section view of the bottom rail of the sash of the window construction illustrated in FIGURE l taken substantially on the line 2-2 in FIG- URE 1. FIGURE 3 is an enlarged section view of a jamb of nice the window construction illustrated in FIGURE 1 taken substantially on the line 3-3 `in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged, partly broken away partial elevation View of the window construction illustrated in FIGURE 1.

FIGURE 5 is an exploded view of a structure for securing a counterweight assembly of the window construction illustrated 4in FIGURE 1 to the sash illustrated in FIGURE 1 showing its relation to the elements of the window construction illustrated in FIGURE l.

FIGURE 6 is an exploded view of a modication of the structure illustrated in FIGURES 1-5 for securing a counterweight assembly to a window sash.

With particular reference to the figures of the drawings one embodiment of the present invention will now be considered in detail.

As shown in FIGURE 1 the window construction 1i) includes the window frame 12 having the fixed sash 14 and the screen 16 secured therein. The movable sash 1S is mounted in the frame 12 and is aided in movement by the counterweight assemblies 26. The counterweight assemblies 20 are releasably held in assembly with the sash 18 by the structure 22. Structure 22 permits ready disengagement of the sash 18 from the counterweight assemblies 20 without the use of tools.

More specifically the window frame 12 includes the head member 24, jamb members 26 and 28 and the sill member 30. The head, jamb and sill members of the frame 12 are secured together by convenient means, such as screws (not shown) and are each provided with a flange portion forming a continuous ange 32 extending outwardly from the periphery of the plane of the window frame 12 by which the frame may be secured in a building construction.

The fixed sash 14 includes the glass pane 34 separated by the mullion36. Screen 16 is provided with a peripheral frame (not shown) secured within a recess (not shown) in the jamb members 26 and 28 and sill member 30 of the frame 12.

The removable sash 18 includes an upper rail 38, a lower rail 40 and side rails 42 and 44, as shown best in FIGURE l. The side rails 42 and 44 are positioned in recesses 4S Iin the jambs 26 and 28 of the window frame for vertical movement. A glass pane 46 is secured to the upper, lower and side rails of the movable sash 1S by the mouldings 48, as shown best in FIGURE 5.

'The counterweight assemblies 20 are of the spiral type wherein a twisted band Sil is resiliently urged into a tube 52 which is secured to the respective jamb of the window frame 12 by convenient means, such as bolt 54.

The construction thus far described is conventional and similar window structures could be substituted therefor. Thus the window structure 10 could include a movable `upper `sash so that the windrow structure would be a double `hung window 'rather than a single hung window. Further, lother counterweight assemblies, such as the well known tape type counterweight assemblies, may be used in place of the spiral type.

The cross section of the jambs of the window frame 12, the cross section of the lower rail of the sash 18 and the structure 22 for releasably securing a counterweight assembly 20 to the sash 18 are not conventional however.

In addition the `structure 22 is particularly efficient in that to assemble a counterweight assembly 20 with the sash 1S `or to disassemble these portions of the window construction no special tools, mechanical knowledge or extended time is required. To assemble a counterweight assembly with the sash 18 it is only necessary to lower the sash 18 t-o a fully closed position. To disassemble the sash 18 from the counterweight assembly 20 the sash is fully raised.

Referring more particularly to FIGURE 5 wherein a structure 22 is illustrated in exploded detail and to FIG- URES 2-4 wherein'a structure 22 is shown retaining the sash 18 and a counterweight assembly 20 in assembly in the window structure 10, the structure 22 will now be considered in detail.

As will be seen in FIGURE 5 the jambs 26 and 28 each include the portions 56 and 58 which provide the previously indicated recess 45 in which the side rail 44 of the sash 18 is movable vertically. Further the jamb member 26 includes the portions 60 and 62 which provide pockets 64 and 66 respectively, in which the flanges 68 and 70 of the counterweight assembly shoe 72 are positioned. The shoe 72 is thus guided in vertical movement with the sash 18.

The shoe 72, as illustrated best in FIGURE 5, is provided with an opening 74 extending therethrough into which the twisted band 50 of the counterweight 20 is inserted. The band 50 is retained in the through-opening 74 by means of the `pin 76 which is inserted in the offset portion '78 of the recess 80 in the bottom of the shoe 72 and through the opening 82 in the end 84 of the twisted band 50. Thus, the shoe 72 is slidable vertically in the jamb 26 of the window frame 12 guided in pockets 64 and 66 and biased in an upward direction by the counterweight 20.

The shoe 72 is further provided with a part 86 extending in the plane of the window 10 away from the jamb 26. The part 86 of the shoe 72 includes the cap portion 88 having the inclined surfaces 90 thereon which extend over the sides 92 of the part 86 of the shoe 72 to form abutments 94.

The lower rail 40 of the sash 18 is provided with an open lower side or bottom. Longitudinally extending ribs 96 and 98 are provided on the interiol of the lower rail 40 and an opening 100 is provided in the side rail 44 of the sash 18. The lower rail 40 due to the open bottom thereof is provided with a spring action which will allow separating of the ribs 96 and 98 on application of pressure therebetween and subsequent return of the ribs to their original position due to resiliency of the material of which the lower rail of the sash 18 is constructed. The lower rail 40 may, for example, be constructed :of aluminum or steel.

Thus with the shoe 72 secured to the counterweight 20 and mounted in the pockets 64 and 66 for vertical movement in the jamb 26, the sash 18 which is positioned in the recess 45 for vertical reciprocal movement may be assembled with the counterweight 20 by vmerely applying an upward pressure to the shoe 72 with the inclined surfaces 90 of the cap portion 88 of the part 86 thereof in engagement with the ribs 96 and 98 of the lower rail 40 of the sash 18 to spread the ribs 96 and 98 apart and carn the head portion 88 over the ribs 96 and 98 after which the lower rail 40 of the sash 18 will snap back to its original cross section with the abutments 94 formed by head portion 88 of shoe 72 behind the ribs 96 and 98, as shown in FIGURES 2-4. The shoe 72 may be engaged with the rail 40 after the shoes are positioned in engagement with the ribs 96 and 98 by merely moving the sash 18 to the full down position due to engagement of the shoe 72 with frame 12.

When it is desired to detach the sash 18 from the counterweight 20 to, for example, remove the sash 18 from the window 10, it is only necessary to raise the sash until the upward movement thereof is stopped by the connection between the shoe 72 and the rail 40 and then exert al slight extra pressure upward on the sash. Due to the shallow abutments 94 on shoe 72 and the position in which the counterweight assembly 20 is mounted on the frame 12 relative to the sash 18 which permits additional upward movement of the sash 18 after disengagement of the shoe 72 and rail 40 the head 88 will snap out of the lower rail 40 to disengage the shoe 72 and rail 40.

The use of the bottom rail 40 of the sash 18 to secure the shoe '72 to the sash 18 is particularly advantageous since the over-all large cross ysection of the bottom rail 40 provides the necessary resiliency to facilitate engagement and disengagement of the shoe 72 and rail 40 without the raily `being fatigued to the extent to which separate spring clips of previous structures have been fatigued. Further the construction 22 as disclosed is particularly advantageous in that no separate removable member or movable member secured to the shoe 72 or sash 18 is required to releasably maintain the counterweight 20 and sash 18 in assembly.

The modified structure 104 illustrated in FIGURE 6 for holding the counterweight 20 in assembly with the lower rail 4t) of sash 18 comprises a shoe 106 which is similar to shoe 72 in that it includes anges 108 and 110 which are positionable in pockets 64 and 66 in jamb 26 to permit sliding movement of the shoe 106 vertically in the jamb 26. Also, the shoe 106 includes a part 112 having the cap portion 114 with the inclined surfaces 116 forming shallow abutments 118. The part 112 of shoe 106 and the lower rail 40 of sash 18 cooperate to releasably secure the sash and counterweight assembly 20 in assembly in the same manner as considered in detail above.

Shoe 106 differs from shoe 72 in that the opening 120 therethrough into which the band 50 of the counterweight 20 extends is of a different configuration to receive the cylindrical member 122. The cylindrical member 122 is split longitudinally as shown in FIGURE 6 to provide resilient action whereby the cylindrical member 122 is gripped in the circular opening 124 in bracket 126. Bracket 126 is secured to the part 112 of the shoe 106 by convenient means, such as the rivet 128.

With the bracket 126 secured in the recess 130 in the shoe 106 by means of the rivet 12S and the cylindrical member 122 extending through the opening 124 of bracket 126 into opening 120, the coiled spring 132 is positioned within the cylindrical member 122 after which the tape 50 is inserted through the opening 120 into the cylindrical member 122 to compress the spring 132. The pin 134 is then extended through the openings 136 in the cylindrical member and the corresponding aligned opening 138 in the tape 50 to secure the tape to the shoe 106.

With the modified structure for securing the tape 50 to the shoe 106 a resilient mounting for the shoe 106 is provided since the openings 136 are of greater extent axially of the cylindrical member 122 than the extent of the pin 134 in the same direction. Thus, shock at the connection between the shoe 106 and counterweight 20 is prevented when the sash 18 is, for example, fully opened or closed rapidly.

While one embodiment of the present invention and a single modification thereof have been considered in detail, it will be understood that other embodiments and modifications are contemplated. It is the intention to include all such modifications and embodiments as are defined by the appended claims within the scope of the invention.

What I claim as my invention is:

l. Window construction comprising a window frame including head, jamb and sill members, a window sash including top, bottom and side rails, the side rails of said window sash being slidably positioned in the jambs of the window frame to permit vertical movement of the sash in the frame, counterweight assemblies secured to the jambs of the frame having a band as a part thereof for facilitating Vertical movement of the sash in the frame, a pair of shoe members, means connecting one of the shoe members to the counterweight assembly in each jamb of the frame, each including an opening through the respective shoe member into which the band of the respective counterweight assembly is inserted, a recess in the bottom of the respective shoe member in communication with the opening, an opening through the band of the respective counterweight assembly and a pin secured in the recess of the respective shoe member and extending through the opening in the respective counterweight assembly and means integral with the bottom rail of the sash and shoe members for releasably and positively locking the bottom rail of the sash and shoe members in assembly against relative vertical movement.

2. Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein the recess has a reentrant portion and the pin is positioned in the reentrant portion of the recess.

3. Window construction comprising a window frame, a sash mounted for vertical movement within the frame having a lower sash rail with an open bottom and inwardly projecting longitudinally extending ribs on the sides of the lower sash rail adjacent the open bottom, a counterweight assembly operable between the frame and sash for facilitating movement of the sash in one direction and a shoe secured to the counterweight assembly including inclined surfaces and abutments thereon for camming over the ribs in the lower sash rail and holding the shoe in releasable engagement with the lower rail of the sash.

4. Structure as set for-th in claim 3, wherein the lower rail of the sash is constructed of resilient material for permitting flexing of the sides of the rail to separate the ribs.

5. Window construction comprising a window frame including head, jamb and sill members, a window sash including top, bottom and side rails, the side rails of said window sash being slidably mounted in the jambs of the Window frame to permit vertical movement of the sash in the frame, the bottom rail of the sash having an open bottom and longitudinally extending ribs on the sides thereof projecting inwardly of the bottom rail adjacent the open bottom thereof, counterweight assemblies secured to the jambs of the frame for facilitating vertical movement of the sash in the frame, a pair of shoe members, means connecting one of the shoe members to the counterweight assembly in each jamb of the frame with a part of each of the shoe members extending into the respective end of the bottom rail of the sash, each shoe member having a cap portion thereon with oppositely positioned inclined surfaces for camming the cap portions over said ribs, an abutment formed by the inclined surfaces on the cap portions of the shoe members engageable with the ribs on the bottom rail after the cap portions of the shoe members have been cammed past the ribs for releasably securing the bottom rail of the sash and shoe members in assembly.

6. Structure as set forth in claim 5, wherein the bottom n rail of the sash is constructed of a resilient material to facilitate camming of the cap portions of the shoe members past the ribs of the bottom rail.

7. Window construction comprising a window frame including head, jamb and sill members, a window sash including top, bottom and side rails, the side rails of said window sash being slidably positioned in the jambs of the window frame to permit vertical movement of the sash in the frames, counterweight assemblies including torsion bands secured to the jambs of the frame for facilitating vertical movement of the sash in the frame, a pair of shoe members, means connecting one of the shoe members to the counterweight assembly in each jamb of the frame including an opening through the band of the counterweight assemblies, an opening extending through said shoe, an annular bracket rigidly secured to said shoe over said opening therethrough, a cylindrical member extending through the annular bracket and into the opening having a transversely extending elongated opening therethrough, resilient means positioned in the cylindrical member and a pin extending through the elongated opening in the cylindrical member and the opening in the band biased in the direction of the band by the resilient means, and means integral with the bottom rail of the sash and the shoe members for releasably securing the bottom rail of the sash and shoe members in assembly against relative vertical movement of the sash and shoe members.

8. in window construction including a counterweight assembly having a band as a part thereof and a shoe member for connecting the counterweight to a window sash, structure for connecting the shoe member to the counterweight assembly including an opening through the shoe member into which the band of the counterweight assembly is inserted, a recess in the bottom of the shoe member in communication with the opening, an opening through the band of the counterweight assembly and a pin secured in the recess of the shoe member and extending through the opening in the counterweight assembly.

9. Structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein the recess has a reentrant portion and the pin is positioned in the reeentrant portion of the recess.

l0. In window construction including a counterweight assembly having a band as a part thereof and a shoe member for connecting the counterweight to a window sash, structure for connecting the shoe member to the counterweight assembly including an opening through the band of the counterweight assembly, an opening extending through said shoe, an annular bracket rigidly secured to said shoe over said opening therethrough, a cylindrical member extending through the annular bracket and into the opening having a transversely extending elongated opening therethrough, resilient means positioned in the cylindrical member and a pin extending through the elongated opening in the cylindrical member and the opening in the band biased in the direction of the band by the resilient means.

References Cited bythe Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,736,403 2/56 Gwynne 189-76 2,879,537 3/59 Pullum 20--52.2 X 2,901,768 9/59 Decker et al 20-52.2 X 2,941,237 6/60 Reese 16-197 2,952,048 9/60 Graham 20-52.2 3,086,259 4/63 Klein Ztl-52.2 3,114,178 12/63 Wood 20-52.2

CHARLES E. OCONNELL, Primary Examiner.

HARRISON R. MOSELEY, Examiner. 

3. WINDOW CONSTRUCTION COMPRISING A WINDOW FRAME, A SASH MOUNTED FOR VERTICAL MOVEMENT WITHIN THE FRAME HAVING A LOWER SASH RAIL WITH AN OPEN BOTTOM AND INWARDLY PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY EXTENDING RIBS ON THE SIDES OF THE LOWER SASH RAIL ADJACENT THE OPEN BOTTOM, A COUNTERWEIGHT ASSEMBLY OPERABLE BETWEEN THE FRAME AND SASH FROR FACILITAING MOVEMENT OF THE SASH IN ONE DIRECTION AND A SHOE SECURED TO THE COUNTERWEIGHT ASSEMBLY INCLUDING INCLINED SURFACES AND ABUTMENTS THEREON FOR CAMMING OVER THE RIBS IN THE LOWER SASH RAIL AND HOLDING THE SHOE IN RELEASABLE ENGAGEMENT WITH THE LOWER RAIL OF THE SASH. 